Shoe sewing machine



nz/enor Huberf goof/voga] Oct. 17, 1950 H. BooTHRoYD sHoE SEWING MACHINEFiled March 6 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 O ct. 17, r1950 H. BooTHRoYD2,525,853

sHoE SEWING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1947 4 Sheets-She??t 2 oct. 17, 195oyFiled March 6, 1947 H. aooTHRoYD SHOE SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Oct. 17, 1950 H. BooTHRoYD SHOE SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 File'dMarch S, 1947 www@ NSW

Patented Oct. 17, 1950 vNIrEDgSTATES PATENT OFFICE Hubert Boothroyd,Leicester, England, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March` 6,1947, Serial No. 732,903

InGreat Britain March 30, 1946 1943 on application `of Gouldbourn andKestel1,`

but differs from that machine `particularly in regard to the needle andawl actuating mechanism and to the means for feeding ashoe through themachine while it is being sewn thereby.

so claims. (o1. 11e- 48) ,A machine constructed as described in said tpatent has proved-in practice to be capable of producing verysatisfactory sewing results while operating at a comparatively highspeed` of approximately '750 revolutions per minute, the machine thenoperating without undue noisexor vibration. As described in Said patent,however,

A the needle and awl` remain constantly Aspaced apart a distance equalto a stitchlength and move, in company, alternately; to the left and Vtothe right to cause the awl to movetthe work,` to the left, over the horn0r internal work support of the machine and then` to bring the needle*7to the right, into alin'ement with `the hole `made in the work by theawl, the wor'l:being`` held `against movement during the movements ofthe needle 'and awl to the right `by a presser foot.` f t l to adjusttherawl toward `the needle until the f adjacent faces of their carrierlevers almost abut against each other. l

Since, however; needles andiawls intended for operating on stout shoeshave to be of a sturdy construction and have t0 be supported by `robustcarriers therefor, it is not possiblein a machine constructed asdescribed inthe aforesaid patent to bring the needle and awl as closetogether as is sometimes desired,`1bearing in mind theiact that shoemanufacturers sometimes .wish to ,53W as rss 2 Y many as eight stitchesto the inch when attachn soles to shoe bottoms.

Moreover the particular needle and awl supporting arrangements of themachine described `in the prior patent impose an undesired restrictionon the extent to which thelneedle and awl can :be spaced apartandtherefore limitlundesirably the minimum length of stitch which can besewn. i j

Itis one of the various objects of the invention to improve a, machineof the type referred to by providing it with novel and convenientlyadjustable means for enabling it to sew stitches which vary considerablyin length, for example for enabling it to sew from three to eightStitches to the inch. y i

It is another of the various objects of the invention to provide, in asewing machineincluding a needle and a, work-feeding awl operating inside by side relation at the same side of the work, a novel and simplyconstructed arrangement for enabling the awl to engage the work close tothe work-penetrating path of the needle,

prior to its feeding the Work toward the needle, i

when stitches of relatively short length arelto be sewn.

It"`is yet a further one of the various objects of the inventiontoprovide, in a sewing :machine including a curved hooked needle and acurved awl a novel and convenient arrangement whereby the needle and awlmay be oscillated, in different paths, about the same axis toward andaway from engagement with the work at certain times in a stitch formingcycle and whereby they may be caused to lie in one `and the same planeat a desired stage in the stitch forming cycle.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide in a sewing Ymachinein which the Work is fed through the machine by step by step movementsof an awl or like member, novel and convenient means for electing avariation in the extent of the work feeding movements and/or in thelengths of the stitches to be sewn.

n With these objects particularly in mind, the illustrative machinehereinafter described makes use of a` curved hooked needle whichnormally 0ccupies a stationary position laterally of the machine alongthe line of work-feed but which oscil- 'sidefoi the plane of movement ofthe needle when the needle occupies a retired or retracted position andprior to the awl engaging the work and feeding it toward the needle.

When an awl is used to punch needle and thread-receiving holes in stoutand thick leather in a machine which operates at a relatively highspeed, itis. desirable, and long experience proves that therawl shouldbe as sturdy as possible, compatible with the desirability that theawl-holes formed in the work be filled by thread and that the awl movealong its own length in piercing the work and not be thrust against thework in Va direction inclined to its length; otherwise the awl will bedeflected by the resistance to penetration offered by the work withconsequent likelihood of breakage of the awl, and/or inaccurate handlingof the work thereby.

It is moreover desirable to arrange both the awl and needle foroscillation rather than for reciprocation since it is possible in thisway to reduce the weight of the parts and relatively high speed may beobtained without excessive ,noise or vibration. In complying with thesevarious desiderata in the illustrative machine, here- .inafterdescribed, in which the needle and `awl lie in parallel planes at thesame side of the work and in which the awl feeds the work to the needlein each stich forming cycle of the machine, provision is made for theawl not only to penetrate the work asclose to the needle as requiredwhen sewingvery small stitches but also then to move laterallyvtowardthe needle plane until the awlhole in the work is carried directlybeneath the need-le point. l In the illustrative machine, hereinafterdescribed, this provision includes means for moving the awl laterallywith two separate movements, the rst of which is'bodily in the directionof -f-vvork feed when the needle is retracted from .the work and the awlis in a partiallyl lowered I.position so that part of the awl carrieractually underlies the needle carrier enabling the awl ato descend topierce the work at a point close .to the plane of the needle. vBysupporting the needle and awl-in robustactuating arms bent somewhattoward each other and by arranging .-for the first lateral movement ofthe awl to occur idly without engaging the work when the needleactuatingarm is in an elevated position and the awl-actuating arm is in apartially lowered position, the awl-carrying end of the latterY arm maybe brought beneath theneedle-actuating arm and the awl may therefore bebrought close to the plane in which the needle lies.

I The Vawl-actuating mechanism of the illustrative machinefis arrangedto cause the awl to .penetrate the work on the conclusion of the idlelateral movement above-referred to and then to begin its second bodilymovement in the direction of work feed carrying the work with it, untilthe awl-hole comes directly into alinement with the needle path forentry by the needle when it descends. Having brought the awl-hole into.alinement with the needle path, the awl pauses there while the presserfoot descends and clamps the work against the internal work support.While the work is being held by the presser foot, the awl retractssufficiently to withdraw it from the work, then steps laterally in aback feeding direction to its initial position a distance equal to thetotal of the length of a stitch plus the distance the awl moved idlyprior to penetrating the work. The awl therrrises further to its fullyretracted inoperative` position.

The needle commences to descend toward the awl hole substantially at thesame time as the awl is lifted from the work and continues to desecondwhile the awl, and its actuating arm, are being back fed out of itspath. By the time the needle point approaches closely to the work, theawl will have been back fed well away from beneath the needle and thelatter may therefore continue its downward movement through the awl holeand intoy the internal work support without interference from the awlmechanism.

lThe needle and awl actuating arms are rotatably mounted, in side byside relation, on horizontal transverse bearings in the head. of themachine, the needle actuating arm being normally held against movementaxially of its bearing though being adjustable along it, and an awlsupporting portion of the awl actuating arm Sliding bodily along itsbearing during idle and Work feeding movements of the awl. Each of thesearms is oscillatedin the desired time relation to otherinstrumentalities of the machine and in a plane perpendicular to theaxis of the bearings, by a cam acting on the rear end of the awl arm.The awl arm is formed in two parts, one for supporting the awl and theother for actuation bythe cam, between which parts relative slidingmovement may take place axially of the Said bearing. For imparting thedesired idle and work feeding movements to the awl at the desired timesbefore and after it has penetrated the work, that part of its actuatingarm which carries the awl is coupled to the forward end of a rockingshaft which extends forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, i. e. atright angles to the said bearing. This rocking shaft is rocked about itsaxis by a cam and its rocking movements are translated into lateralsliding movements ofthe awl through an offset block which couples acrank pin on the forward end of the shaft to a horizontal transversefeed slide having a forwardly extending tongue engaging a groove formedin the hub of the awl supporting part of the awl actuating arm. Withthis'arrangement the awl actuating arm may be oscillated about l .itsbearing by its cam and the awl supporting part of said arm may be movedat the same time .laterally of the machine by the rocking shaft. Y

n order to provide for a variation in the length of stitches to be sewn,and therefore to enable adjustment to be made in the extent to which theawl feeds the work toward thev needle after having penetrated it, theoffset block which couples the crank pin to the feed slide is receivedwithin a slot in a relatively fixed but angularly adjustable member onthe feed slide. This member is offset heightwise and laterallyrelatively to the axis ofthe rocking shaft. Rotation of said member mayswing the slot into a chosen angular relation'both to a line drawnperpendicular to the direction of work feed and to the path of movementof the crank pin, this angular relation determining the extents ofmovement imparted to the feed slide While the crank pin rocks from oneside to the other of a line perpendicular to the direction of feed andof movement of the feed slide Iaxially of the rocking shaft. rWhen, forexample, the slot lies at an angle of, say, thirty degrees to saidperpendicular line and its upper end lies forwardly of said lineconsidered in the direction of movement of the slide, the forwardrocking movement of the crank pin, which -lies in front of saidadjustable member before the feed slide commences its lateral movementtoward the needle and behind it when it has completed. such. movement,.will .cause the feed slide to move laterally at a slower rate than thecrank pin until a crank pin reaches the top of its rocking movement andwill then causethe slide to move at amorerapidfrate, and through asomewhat greater distance, than the'crank pin as the latter swingsdownwardly and forwardly to complete its arcuate rocking movement. Thecrank pin is causedlto dwell for a period at the top of its rockingmovement and the awl is caused to descent toward the work during thisdwell. Therefore, when the slot occupies such an inclination as justreferred to, the work feeding movements of theawl will `cause themachine to sew relatively long stitches.

If, now, itis desired to sewrelatively short stitches, the angularlyadjustable memberis rotated to cause the slot to occupy .afsrearwardlyinclined relation to a line drawn perpendicularly to the direction ofmovement of the feed slide. In such a case, since the slot will then liemore nearly perpendicularly to the path in which the crank pin moves atthe commencement of its rocking movement and more nearly parallel to thepath in which the crank pin moves after having reached its uppermostpoint, the feed slide will be moved laterally through a greater distancebefore the awl penetr'atesithe work and through a shorter distance when`the awlmoves the work toward the needle afterhaving penetrated it.Whatever be the angular setting of the slot, the feed slide moves thesame over-all distance in each stitch forming` cycle and brings each awlhole unvaryingly directly belowthe point of the needle.

Thus the illustrative machine includes a very compact and reliablearrangement by which ready variation may be made in the lengths of thestitches to be sewn by the machine at a given time without affectingthe`alinementof the awl hole with the needle path. V

These and other features `and advantages of the invention as hereinafterdescribed and claimed will be readily apparent fromthe followingspecication taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in'which Fig. 1 is a right handsideelevation of a portion of theillustrative machine;`

Fig. 2 is a front `elevation of the parts of the machine shown in Figure1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan viewof the parts of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a right hand side elevation of parts of a work-feedingmechanism of theillustrative machine;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI.in Fig. 3;

Figs. '7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of thework-feeding mechamsm;

Fig. 9 is a right hand side elevation, partly in section, of parts ofneedle mechanism of the illustrative machine; z

Fig. l0 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 9 viewed in the directionof the arrow in that iigure; and

Fig. 1l is a diagram or chart illustrating the timing in a sewing cycleof the machine of the awl and needle. I

The illustrative machine, except as willhereinafter appear, is similarto the lockstitch McKay type machine disclosed in the Gouldbourn et al.patent above identified.` Referring to the drawings, a curved awl I isclamped in the front end portion of an awl actuating arm or carrier 3arranged to `be movednownwardlyt and upwardly about a horizontal axis 5(Fig. 1l extending laterally of the machine and lying about iive inches`behind the awl and about one-quarter of an'inch higher than the uppersurface of a rotary horn 1 having a, needle receiving hole and needlethreading mechanism (not shown) at its upper end, corresponding to thehorn referred to as a shoe-entering horn I5 in said patent. Theaforesaid axis 5 is located in the machine in the same position as theaxis referred to as the :axis 65 in said patent. When viewed from thefront of the machine the curvature of the awl I defines a vertical planeand when viewed from the sideof the machine the curvature of the awl isconcentric to the aforesaid axis 5 about which the awl arm 3 is arrangedto be moved.

The rear end of the awl arm 3 has formed on it a sleeve 9 (Fig. 3) whichextends to the right and is rotatably and slidably mounted in a sleeveII of a bearing I3 which is secured to a bracket l5 fixed on the frameof the machine head I1, which bracket carries a cover I8 to shroud theparts carried by the bracket from below. Rotatably mounted on the saidsleeve II of the bearing is a rearwardly extending awl cam .arm I9arranged to move the awl arm 3 downwardly and upwardly about its axis 5.The rear end of the awl cam arm I9 has rotatably mounted on it a camroll 2| arranged to Vengage a groove in a cam 23 secured on a horizontalcam shaft 25 rotatably mounted in the head l1 of the machine in front ofand a little higher than a driving shaft 21 corresponding to the`crankshaft referred to as the crankshaft 29 in the prior patent. Thecam shaft 25 is driven by the shaft 21, through gears, 29, 3l,connecting the two shafts, the two shafts 25, 21 being driven at thesame speed.

The front end of the `awl cam arm I9 has extending upwardly from it aflange 33 extending across which is a recess 35 arranged to receive alug 31 projecting toward `the right from the awl arm 3. This connectionbetween the awl arm 3 and the cam arm i9 allows the awl `arm 3 to beoscillated by the cam arm I9 and the awl arm 3 to move laterallyrelatively to the cam arm I9 to feed the work when the awl I is inengagement therewith.

Referring to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, a flange on the awl arm 3 has in itslower edge a groove 4| (Fig. 3) extending part way around the axis ofthe arm. The groove 4I is engaged by a tongue 43 extending forwardlyfrom a feed block 45 (Fig. 5l which is secured on a feed slide 41extending laterally of the machine and slidingly mounted in guideways 49formed in rearward extensions of the aforesaid bearing I3 and of acorresponding similarly shapedbearing 5l (Fig. 3) which is also fixed tothe bracket I5. The feed slide 41 is held in the guideways 49 by thinplates 53 secured to the bearings I3 and 5I. The feed slide 41 isreciprocated to and fro laterally of the machine to cause, through thefeed block `45, the awl arm 3 to move laterally of the machine and theawl I, when it is in engagement with the work, to feed the work. Thefeed block 45 is secured to the feed slide 41 by a bolt 53 which passesthrough a slot in the feed block 45 extending lengthwise of the feedslide, so that the feed block 45 may be adjustedilaterally of themachine on the feed slide 41 to ensure that the hole made in the work bythe awl I will, at the end of the work feeding movement of the awl, bein alinement with the hole in the top of the horn and therefore incorrectposition to receive the needle 55.

The feed slide 41 has extending rearwardly from it a boss 51 (Fig. 5) inwhich is mounted a cylindrical feed-controlling member 59. Thefeed-controlling member has a stem BI rotatable in the boss 51 about anaxis 63 which extends rearwardly and slightly downwardly. On the rearend of the stem of the feed-controlling member is a flange 65 and formeddiametrically in the rear face of the flange is an upwardly anddownwardly extending rectangular groove B1. The stem Bl of thefeed-controlling member has formed in it at the right hand side portionof its peripheral face a number of notches 69 (Fig. 4) and aspring-pressed plunger 1l slidingly mounted in the boss 51 is arrangedto engage one or another of the notches to hold the feed-controllingmember 59 yieldingly in adjusted position about the axis of the stem 6I.The rectangular groove 61 has slidingly mounted in it a die-block 13which is pivotally mounted on a crank pin 15 formed on the forward endof a feed shaft 11 rotatably mounted in the head l1. The feed shaft 11extends rearwardly and slightly downwardly from its forward end at thesame angle as the aforesaid axis 63 of the stem 6I and is lower than theaxis of the crank pin 15 and the stem 6I of the feed-controlling member59. The feed shaft 11 at its rear end portion has an upwardly extendingarm 19 (Fig. 1) having on its upper end portion a rearwardly extendingpin 8l on which is rotatably mounted a roll 83. The roll 83 engages agroove 85 in the periphery of a feed cam 81 secured on the driving shaft21.

The feed shaft 11 is oscillated by the feed cam 81 and through thefeed-controlling member 59 reciprocates the feed slide 41 and awl arm 3a distance more than the length of a stitch toward and from the path ofthe needle laterally of the machine to cause the awl I to feed the work,when in engagement therewith, and to return when the awl has been movedupwardly away from the work. The crank pin 15 on the feed shaft 11 isactuated at two separate times during each sewing cycle an equaldistance, about one quarter of an inch, each side of a vertical planepassing through the axis of the feed shaft 11. When the crank pin 15 isat either end of its movement across said vertical plane its axis is inalinement with the axis 63 of the adjustable feed-controlling member 59and therefore the feed-controlling member 59, feed slide 41 and awl lare all moved uniformly the same distance laterally of the machine bythe crank pin 15 in each portion of the total movement. If the groove 51in the feedcontrolling member 59 is vertical movements of thefeed-controlling member laterally in the direction of work feed willcorrespond t movements of the crank pin 15, the die-block of coursemoving upwardly and downwardly in the groove since the crank pin movesin a curved path about the axis of the shaft 11 whereas thefeed-controlling member 59 moves in a straight horizontal path. If,however, the feedcontrolling member 59 is rotatably adjusted about theaxis 53 of its stem 6| so that the groove 61 therein is not vertical,horizontal movements of the feed-controlling member 59 at either side ofa central position of the crank pin 15 will not be equal and will notcorrespond to movements of the crank pin, i. e. if the groove 61 is atan angle extending upwardly toward the aforesaid vertical plane passingthrough the axis of the feed shaft 11, as shown in Fig. 1, thefeed-controlling member 59 will lag behind the crank pin 15 during thefirst part of its movement, owing to the die block 13 moving upwardly inthe inclined groove 51 as it moves laterally with the crank pin 15.Thus, the movement in the direction of work feed imparted to thefeed-controlling member 59 and awl I during the first part of themovement of the crank pin will be relatively slow compared to themovement of the crank pin until the die block 13 begins to move down thegroove Whereupon the feed-controlling member 59 begins to catch up withthe crank pin 15 and the movement of the controlling member and awl willbe increased until at the end of the movement of the crank pin 15 theaxes of the crank pin 15 and feed-controlling member 59 are once more inalinement.

When the feed-controlling member 59 is in the position shown in Fig. 7the feed-controlling member 59 will be moved from A to B while the crankpin 15 is moving from A to C and while the crank pin is moving from C toD the feed-controlling member will be moved from B to D. The actual feedof the work by the awl takes place while the crank pin is moving from Cto D.

If the groove 61 in the feed-controlling member 59 is inclined in theopposite direction, as shown in Fig. 8, the reverse action takes placeas regards the movement of the feed-controlling member 59 in relation tothe movement of the crank pin 15. Thus, during the rst part of themovement of the crank pin from E to F the feed-controlling member 59,instead of lagging behind the crank pin moves in advance thereof from Eto G and as the crank pin 15 moves vfrom F to H the feed-controllingmember 59 moves from G to H, the crank pin catching up with thefeed-controlling member until their axes are again in alinement. In thisway movement of the awl will at first be relatively rapid and thenslower compared to the movement of the crank pin.

As will hereinafter appear, the feed of the work takes place during thelatter part only of the lateral movement of the awl toward the needle.The first part of the movement of the awl is an idle movement from aposition more than a stitch length away from the needle to a position astitch length away from the needle, the awl being disengaged from thework, for a purpose hereinafter described. By comparing Figs. 7 and 8 itwill be apparent that when the controlling member is in the positionshown in Fig. 7 the latter part of the feeding movement of the awl willcause the Work to be fed a longer distance than when thefeed-controlling member 59 is in the position shown in Fig, 8.

If the feed-controlling member is adjusted to provide a relatively shortstitch, e. g. one-seventh of an inch, the feeding movement of the awl,when it has engaged the work, will occupy only a relatively smallportion of the total movement of the awl toward the needle and the idlepart of the movement of the awl toward the needle will be relativelylong. If the feed-controlling member is adjusted to provide a relativelylong stitch, e. g. one-quarter of an inch, the idle movement of the awlis reduced in comparison with the actual feeding movement of the awl.

The particular construction of the feed and feed-adjusting mechanismjust described provides a robust, compact and uncomplicated arrangement,occupying only a relatively small space in the machine and being freefrom undue wear and undesirable spring in the parts;`

The hook needle 55 of the illustrative machine is, when viewed from theside of the ma-l chine, curved about the same axis 5 as the awl I andwhen viewed from the front itsaxis lies in a vertical plane.` The needle55 is secured in the frontend portion of a needle actuating arm orcarrier 89 the rear end portion of which has extending horizontally tothe left from it a sleeve 9| (Fig. 3) the axis ofwhich is in alinementwith the aforesaid sleeve 3 on the awl arm 3. The sleeve 9| on theneedle arm is ro`- tatable in a sleeve 93 of the aforesaldlbearing 5|which is secured to the aforesaid bracket I5 to which the aforesaidbearing I3 of the awl arm 3 is secured. n, l A

The lower portion of the needlev arm 89 has formed in it a groove 95extending part way around the axis of the arm, which groove 95 receivesa tongue 91 (see Figs. 9' and 10) on a block 99 secured to the bracketI5. The tongue block 93 is secured to a, bracket I'III which `in turn issecured, by screws |03, to theV bracket I5. The tongue block 99 issecured to the bracket ISI by two bolts |05. The bolts |05 pass throughopen-ended slots |01 in the bracket IGI and have on them heads whichengage undercut recesses in the bracket. When the bolts are loosened thetongue block may be adjnsted laterally of the machine to bring theneedle into alinernent with the hole in the top of the horn. For soadjusting the tongue block 33 the block has rotatably mounted in it astud having an eccentric portion ||3 arranged to engage a recess ||5(Fig. 10) in the `bracket 10|,

Rotatably mounted on` the sleeve portion of the bearing 5I is aneedle-cam arm IIT Y(Figs. 1 and 4). The needle-cam arm I has an`u`p`wardly extending portion |`|9 in which is formed a recess |2| (Fig, 3)arranged to receive a lug |23 projecting laterally from the needle` arm89, the recess I2`I and lug |23 being similar to the recess 35 and lng31. The needle"camarm` I Il through the lug |23 and recess I2I, causesthe needle arm 89 to oscillate about its axis and the lug |23 and recessI2I allow the needle arm 89 to be adjusted laterally relatively to the;needle-cam arm ||'I. T heneedle-cain arm I Il has on its rear end `aroll arranged to en-` gage a carnjgroovein" the can; 231 which causesthe needle to move1 downwardly and upwardly.

To stiffen` the feed slide arrangement and positively preventmisalinement of the needle and awl carriers, a shaft |21 extendsthrcingh` the sleeves 3 and 9| of the awl and needle armsand is securedto the `awl armw3. This shaft pro` vides support for the arms againsttwisting ward each other, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the awl may movebeneath theneedle when the latter is raised.

The timing of the awl andneedle of the1 illus#` trative machine will nowbe described; with reference to the chart of Fig.; l1 in which the lineA represents theup and down movement of the needle,"the `lineLBrepresents the up and 10 down movement of the awl, and the line Crepresents the lateral movement of the awl. Assuming the illustrativemachine to be in operation to sew a seam and the work-feeding andstitchforming devices to have reached once more the positions which theyoccupied when the machine came to rest, the awl `will be at the right ofits path of lateral movement and will have moved downwardly, aboutone-quarter of its movement toward the work. The needle (line A) will berising and nearly at the top if its movement away from the work. Duringabout the first 15 of rotation of the driving shaft the awl (line B)moves downwardly to a position abouthalfway toward the work where thereis a dwell I3| in the downward movement, the awl having moved slightlytoward the left. The needle during this 15 of rotation of the drivingshaft moves nearly to its highest position. During about the next 15 ofrotation of theldriving shaft the awl remains in this heightwiseposition. Thereafter the awl is moved laterally (line C) partway towardthe left, thelneedle rising to the top Vof its heightwise movement andthere is a dwell |33 in the feed. During about the next 30 of rotationof the driving shaft during the dwell |33 the awl is moved fullydownwardly into the work, until its lower end is a little higher thanthe top of the horn, the needle moving downwardly slightly from itsfully raised position. During about the next 70 of rotation of thedriving shaft the awl is lifted slightly from its fully lowered positionto relieve pressure of the work on the horn caused by the piercingaction of the awl and is moved to the left to feed the work, the needleremain# ing substantially in its raised position. The awl then is in aposition beneath the `needle and in alinement with the hole in theupperA end portion of -the horn. During about the next 20 of rotation ofthe driving shaft there is a dwell |35 in the feed and the awl remainsin its lefthand position beneath the needle, which remains in its raisedposition. Thereafter the awl moves upwardly out of the work to aposition about half-way heightwise of its upward movement. During aboutthe next 30 of rotation of the driving shaft thereis a` dwell |31 in theupward movement of the awl and it remains substantially in itslast-mentioned heightwise position and moves to the `right from beneaththe needle into its extreme right-hand position more than a stitchlength `away from the path of the needle, the needlecommencing to movedownwardly from its fully raised position.

During about the next 25 of rotation of the driving shaft the awl, whileit remains at the right-hand end of its lateral position, is fullyraised, the needle continuing to move downwardly. During about the nextof rotation of the driving shaft the awl remains in its righthand andfully raisedposition and the needle fully descends and commences to riseagain. During the next and last 15 of rotation of the driving shaft theawl descends about to its starting position while remaining in itsright-hand position. T'he` needle continuesto descend andl reaches itslowest position when the driving` shaft has rotated` about 265 from itsstarting position. The needle remains in its lowered positionduringabout the next 45 of rotation of the driving shaft, during which`the needle thread is wrapped around theneedle by the whirl in the horn,and the needle then rises during about the 11 last 50 of rotation of thedriving shaft to its starting position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the awl While in itsright-hand position is moved downwardly part way toward the work. Whilein the part-way downward position there is a dwell while it is movedpart way toward the needle within a stitch length of the needle whichhas been raised out of the way of the awl and awl arm. The awl is thenmoved further downwardly into engagement with the work and is then movedto the left to feed the work. In doing so it moves beneath the needlewhich is in its raised position. Having fed the work to a position inwhich a hole made in the work by the awl is above the hole in the upperend of the horn and in a position to receive the needle when itdescends, the awl, while remaining in its lefthand position is raisedout of the work about half-way toward its fully raised position wherethere is a second dwell. During this second dwell the awl is moved toits right-hand position, out of the way of the needle, before beingfully raised out of the way of a thread lifter similar to the threadlifter indicated at l55 in the Gouldbourn et alipatent.

The distance the awl moves toward the left before it is moved downwardlyinto engagement with the work will, of course, vary with the adjustmentof the feed since the feeding of the work takes place after the awl hasengaged the work, the awl moving further toward the left before itengages the work if the feed of the work is relatively short than if itis relatively long. The same is true of the disengagement of the awlfrom the work. The dwells |33 and |35 are for the purpose of preventingtime variations in lateral movement of the awl from affecting theposition of the awl when adjustments are made. rlhe dwells |31 and 137in the downward and upward strokes of the awl are to enable the awlcarrier to move beneath the needle carrier and thread lifter.

While the several features of the invention are herein disclosed asapplied to a McKay type lockstitch sewing machine provided with arotatable work supporting horn, it is to be understood that certainfeatures of the invention are of more general application to shoe sewingmachines of other types and for operating to advantage on other thanMcKay type shoes.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle mounted tooscillate toward and from the work about a transverse axis and otherstitch forming devices, in combination with a curved work feeding awl atthe side of the work with the needle and oscillating about the same axisas the needle and mechanism for actuating the awl with an idle lateralmovement before it engages the work to carry it closer to the plane ofthe needle.

2. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle mounted tooscillate toward and from the work about a transverse axis and otherstitch forming devices, in combination with a curved work feeding awl atthe side of the work with the needle arranged for oscillation about thesame axis as the needle and mechanism for actuating the awl with an idlelateral movement before it engages the work to carry it close to theplane of the needle when the needle is retracted from the work, andafter engaging the work to l2 feed the work toward the plane of theneedle until the awl hole in the work is moved directly beneath theneedle point.

3. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle mounted tooscillate toward and from the work and other stitch forming devices, incombination with a work feeding awl at the side of the work with theneedle and mechanism for actuating it with two separate lateralmovements in the direction of feed, the first of which is whiledisengaged from the work and while the needle is retracted from thework, and the second of which is after engagement with the work forfeeding the work to enable the awl to penetrate the work between saidlateral movements at a point close to the plane of the needle.

4. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a needlecarrier mounted to oscillate toward and from the work, a curved workfeeding awl at the side of the work with the needle and other stitchforming devices, and a carrier armfor the awl mounted to oscillateconcentrically with the needle, in combination with mechanism foractuating the awl carrier arm with two separate lateral movements in thedirection of feed, the first of which brings the awl carrier arm intounderlying relation to the needle carrier arm to enable the awl to bebrought close to the plane of the needle, and the second of which causesthe awl to feed the work.

5. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a needlecarrier arm mounted to oscillate toward and from the work, a curved workfeeding awl at the side of the work with the needle and other stitchforming devices, a carrier arm for the awl mounted to oscillateconcentrically with the needle in combination with mechanism foractuating the awl carrier arm with two separate lateral movements in thedirection of feed, the first of which brings the awl carrier arm intounderlying relation to the needle carrier arm to enable the awl to bebrought close to the plane of the needle, and the second of which causesthe awl to feed the Work, and mechanism for actuating the awl to piercethe work at the conclusion of its first lateral movement so that thehole formed by the awl may be brought into alignment with the needle forentry of the needle when it descends.

6. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a needlecarrier arm mounted to oscillate toward and from the work, a curved workfeeding awl and other stitch forming devices, a carrier arm for the awlmounted to oscillate concentrically and at the same side of the workwith the needle, in combination with mechanism for actuating the awlcarrier arm with two separate lateral movements, the rst of which bringsthe awl carrier arm into underlying relation to the needle carrier armto enable the awl to be brought close to the plane of the needle, andthe second of which causes the awl to feed the work, mechanism foractuating the awl to pierce the work at the conclusion of its rstlateral movement so that the hole formed by the awl may be brought intoalignment with the needle for entry of the needle when it descends, saidmechanism causing the awl to pause, with a dwell in its lateral movementwhile engaging the work when the awl is in alinement with the needle,and means for clamping the work during said dwell.

7. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a curved workfeeding awl and other stitch forming devices,- a work support andamasser@ a presser foot in combination with mechanism for actuating theawl to penetrate and withdraw from the work, and mechanism for impartinga lateral movement to the awl in the direction of work feed, saidmechanisms acting while the work is clamped between the work support andpresser foot to cause the awl to, retract sufficiently to withdraw itfrom the work, to move laterally in a back feeding direction a distanceequal to the length of a stitch, then to move idly still further awayfrom the needle and thereafter to rise further away from the Work to afully re tracted inoperative position.

8. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a curved awland other stitch forming devices, a work support and a presser foot. incombination with mechanism for actuating the awl to penetrate andwithdraw from the world mechanism for imparting a lateral movement to`the awl in the direction of feed said mechanisms acting while the workis clamped between the work support and presser foot to cause the: awlto retract sufficiently to withdraw it from the work, to move laterallyin a back feeding direction a distance equal to the length of a stitchand lthen to move idly still further away from the needle and thereafterto rise further away from the work to a fullyretracted' inoperativeposition, and mechanismfor actuating the needle to cause it to enter ahole formed by the awl after the idle movement of the awlxisstarted.

9. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a worksupport, in combination with a curved work feeding awl arranged at thesame side of the work with the needle and mech` anism for actuating theawl to move it in` the direction of feed toward the;y needle as` theneedle is retracting from. the work` during` each sewing cycle andthereafter to move it more` than a stitch length away from the path ofthe needle.

10. A lockstitch shoe sewing machine having a hook needle, a workfeeding` awl,` carrierarms in which the needle and awl are arranged `formovement toward and:` from' the, work, and mechanisms for actuating theneedle and awl to cause them to penetrate and retract from the work, incombination with mechanism connected to the awl carrier arm actingbeforel the awl pierces the work toinove, the awl laterallsr in thedirection of feed idly before engaging the` work, and an adjustableconnection inqsaid awl feeding mechanism for changingrthe; idle lateralmovement ofthe awl.

11. A lockstitch shoe sewing; machine having a hook needle, a workfeeding awl, carrierarms in which the needle and awl are arranged. for

movement toward andufromztheiworknand mech,` anisms for actuating theneedlefand; awl to cause;

them to penetrate-andJ retractpfromgthe; work, i in combination withlmechanism connected, to` the awl carrier armnacting before the awlpierces the work to move the awl laterally; in the` direction of feedidly before engaging, the workand an adjustable connection in` said` awlfeeding` hook needle, a work 'feeding'awl carrier-arms-inm which theneedle andawlLarefarrangedffor-movement toward and-from# the work; andvmechanisms t for actuating the needleV andawl to `cause `them` to`penetrate and* retractfrom--the work, in com 14 bination with mechanismacting to impart two separate lateral movements to the awl carrier armin the direction of work feed, one of which takes place idly before theawl engages the work and the other after the awl pierces the work.

13. A lockstitch shoe sewing machine having a hook needle, a workfeeding awl, carrier arms in which the needle and awl are arranged formovement toward and from the work, and mechanisms for actuating theneedle and awl to cause them to penetrate and retract from the work, incombination with mechanism actingto impart two separate lateralmovements to the awl carrier armin the direction of work' feed, one ofwhich taires place idly before the awl engages the work and the otherVafter the awl pierces the work, including an adjustable feed controllingmember arranged to increase the length of the lateral movement of theawl after engaging the work and simultaneously to decrease the length ofthe idle movement.

14. A shoe sole sewing machine having `a curved hook needle and a workfeeding awl both located-.at the same side of the work, in combinationwith mechanisms1 for moving the awl into engagement with the work and inthe direction of work feed to feed' the work in each stitch formingcycle and for causing the awl to engage the work only after it has moveda predetermined distance idly-toward the planeof theneedle.

l 1'5. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a workfeeding awl both located at the same side of the work, means foroscillating the needle toward andv from the work and for retaining itagainst transverse movement, means for oscillating the awl toward andfrom the work, and mechanism for moving the awl idly in a lateraldirection before engaging the work to cause it to be interposed betweenthe Work and the needle when the latter is retracted from the work.

16. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a workfeeding awl both located` at the same side of the work, carriers for theneedle and awl, and mechanism for moving the awl along the line of workfeedinto such close proximity to the path of the needle prior to`commencing to feedthe work and while theneedle is in a retractedposition out of the work, that the awl carrier then partially occupies aspace nor-` mally occupied by the needle carrier when the needle is inengagement with the work.

17. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a workfeeding awl both located at the same side of the work and separatemech-` anisms acting successively in each stitch forming cycle toretract the needle from the work, to move the awl in the direction ofwork feed tc-` ward the needle, thereafter to move the awl'intoengagement with the work and tol move the awl in the direction of workfeed untila hole made in the work by the awl is brought directly beneaththe needle point.

18. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved" hook needle and a workfeeding awl both located at the same side of the work, in combinationwith mechanism for imparting equal lateral movements to the awl duringsuccessive sewing cycles comprising a feed slide, a groovedmember on thefeed slide, an oscillating member having sliding engagement with thegrooved member, andmeans for adjusting the angular relation of saidgrooved member and the path of movement of the oscil-V lating member tovary the extent of lateral move-fV ment imparted to the feed slideduring apart ofl the rocking movement of the-oscillating memberi- 19. Ashoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a curved workfeeding awl, both operating at the same side of the work, a feed slide,in combination with mechanism for imparting equal lateral movements tothe feed slide during successive sewing cycles with parts of saidmovements relatively adjustable in length, comprising a rotatablegrooved feed controlling member on the feed slide, an oscillating memberhaving slidable engagement with the grooved member and being actuatedduring each sewing cycle from a position in alinement with the axis ofrotation of the grooved member at one end of the oscillating movement ofthe oscillating member to a position in alinement with the axis ofrotation of the grooved member at the other end of said oscillatingmovement, and means for holding the grooved member in fixed position onthe feed slide about its axis of rotation.

20. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a curvedwork feeding awl, both operating at the same side of the work, a feedslide, in combination with mechanism for imparting equal lateralmovements to the feed slide during successive sewing cycles with partsof said movements relatively adjustable in length, comprising arotatable grooved feed controlling member on the feed slide, anoscillating feed shaft, a crank pin on the feed shaft, a die-block onthe crank pin engaging the groove in the grooved member, said crank pinbeing actuated during each sewing cycle from a position of alinementwith the axis of rotation of the grooved member at one end of theoscillating stroke of the dieblock to a position of alinement with saidaxis at the other end of said oscillating movement, and means forholding the grooved member in fixed position on the feed slide about itsaxis of rotation.

21. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle and a curvedwork feeding awl, both operating at the same side of the work, a feedslide, in combination with mechanism for imparting equal lateralmovements to the feed slide during successive sewing cycles with partsof said movements relatively adjustable in length, comprising arotatable grooved feed controlling member on the feed slide, anoscillating feed shaft, a crank pin on the feed shaft, a die-block onthe crank pin engaging the groove in the grooved member, said crank pinbeing actuated during each sewing cycle from a position of alinementwith the axis of rotation of the grooved member at one end of theoscillating stroke of the die-block to a position cf alinement with saidaxis at the other end of said oscillating movement, and springpressedplunger and notch means for yieldingly holding the grooved member in xedposition on the feed slide.

22. A McKay type shoe sewing machine having a curved hook needle, acarrier on which the needle is mounted for movement toward and from thework in a fixed path, a work feeding awl, an awl carrier movable in thedirection of Work feed, bearings on which said carriers are mounted, arotary work supporting horn and an oscillating feed shaft, theoscillating movements of which are translated into lateral movements ofthe awl carrier in the direction of work feed in combination with feedadjustable connections between the awl carrier and the feed shaftcomprising a crank pin on the feed shaft, a rotatable grooved feedcontrolling member, a dieblock on the crank pin slidable in the grooveof the controlling member, and means for retain- 16 ing the feedcontrolling member against rotation on tliefeed slide.Vv

23. A McKay type shoe sewing machine hav ing a curved hook needle, anoscillating carrier arm on which the needle is mounted for movementtoward and from the Work, a curved work feeding awl, an oscillatingcarrier arm movable in the direction of feed on which the awl ismounted, bearings on which said carrier arms are mounted, a rotary worksupporting horn and an oscillating feed shaft, the oscillating movements of which are translated into lateral movements of the awl carrierarm in the direction of work feed, in combination with feed adjustingconnections between the awl carrier arm and the feedshaft comprising acrank pin on the feed shaft, a rotatable grooved feed controllingmember, and a die-block on the crank pin slidable in the groove of thecontrolling member.

24. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a needlecarrier, an awl, an awl carrier, alined bearing sleeves within whichsaid carriers rotate and along which said awl carrier slides, incombination with means rotatably mounted on said sleeves and connectedto the respective carriers for moving the needle and awl toward and fromengagement with the work.

25. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a groovedneedle carrier, a curved awl, a grooved awl carrier and alined bearingsleeves within which said carriers rotate and along which said awlcarrier slides, in combination with cam arms rotatably mounted on thebearing sleeves, connecting means between the respective carriers andthe cam arms including cooperating lug and recess portions on saidcarriers, and tongues engaging the grooves in the respective carrierstomaintain the carriers in correct lateral position relatively to eachother along the bearings.

26. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a groovedneedle carrier, a curved awl, a grooved awl carrier and alined bearingsleeves within which said carriers rotate and along which said awlcarrier slides, in combination with cam arms rotatably mounted on thebearing sleeves, connecting means between the respective carriers andthe cam arms including cooperating lug and recess portions on saidcarriers, a tongue vblock adjustably secured to the machine engaging thegroove in the needle carrier, a second'tongue block engaging the groovein the awl carrier, and a feed slide to which is adjustably secured theawl carrier engaging tongue block.

27. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a groovedneedle carrier, a curved awl, a grooved awl carrier and alined bearingsleeves within which said carriers rotate and along which said awlcarrier slides, in combination with caml arms rotatably mounted on thebearing sleeves, connecting means between the respective carriers andthe cam arms including cooperating lug and recess portions on saidcarriers, a tongue block adjustably secured to the machine engaging thegroove in the needle carrier, a second tongue block engaging the groovein the awl carrier, a feed slide to which is adjustably secured the awlcarrier engaging tongue block, and mechanism for reciprocating the feedslide laterally the same distance during successive sewing cyclesincluding adjustable connections with the feed slide for varying thedistance through which the feed slide is recipro 17 cated in one part ofa stroke relatively to another part. i

28. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a groovedneedle carrier, a curved awl, a grooved awl carrier and alined bearingsleeves within which said carriers rotate and along which said awlcarrier slides, in combination with cam arms rotatably mounted on thebearing sleeves, connecting means between the respective carriers andthe cam arms including cooperating lug and recess portions on saidcarriers, a tongue block adjustably secured to the machine engaging thegroove in the needle carrier, a second tongue block engaging the groovein the awl carrier, a feed slide to which is adjustably secured the awlcarrier engaging tongue block, mechanism for reciprocating the feedslide laterally the same distance during successive sewing cyclesincluding adjustable connections with the feed slide for varying thedistance through which the feed slide is reciprocated in one part of astroke relatively to another part, and a cam for actuating the awl camarm to cause the awl to engage the work during one only of said parts ofthe feed slide stroke.

29. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle, a groovedneedle carrier, a curved awl, a grooved awl carrier and alined bearingsleeves within which said carriers rotate and along which said awlcarrier slides, in combination with cam arms rotatably mounted on thebearing sleeves, connecting means between the respective carriers andthe cam arms including cooperating lug and recess portions on saidcarriers, a tongue block adjustably secured to 35 the machine engagingthe groove in the needle carrier, a second tongue block engaging thegroove in the awl carrier, a feed slide to which is 18 adjustablysecured the awl carrier engaging tongue block, mechanism forreciprocating the feed slidelaterally the same distance duringsuccessive sewing cycles including adjustable connections with the feedslide for varying the distance through which the feed slide isreciprocated in one part of a stroke relatively to another part, a camfor actuating the awl cam arm to cause the awl to engage the work duringone only of said parts of the feed slide stroke, and a cam for actuatingthe feed slide reciprocating mechanism formed with dwells to hold thefeed slide stationary while the awl engages and disengages the work.

30. A shoe sole sewing machine having a curved hook needle mounted tooscillate toward and from the work about a transverse axis and otherstitch forming devices, in combination with a curved work feeding awl atthe side of the work with the needle, mechanism for actuating the awlalong the line of feed a uniform distance, a portion of which is idlewhile the awl is disengaged from the work, and connections in saidmechanism for varying the length of the stitches inserted by changingthe extent of idle movement of the awl in the direction of feed beforeit engages the work.

HUBERT BOOTHROYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 372,745 Pedersen Dec. 3, 19071,541,800 Du Mais et al. June 16, 1935 2,331,118 Gouldbourn et al. Oct.5, 1943

